Guide to Dystopias

Hello, how are you doing? It's good to have you back here!

It seems you enjoyed the subject “dystopia”, right? So, let's talk a little bit more about that.

As we discussed in part 1, dystopia is a fictional description of a reality that goes against the ideal society, utopia, and usually takes place in the future, wherein the State uses reason to spread violence and control masses to perpetuate inequality.

The philosophical concept of dystopia was first used in 1865 by the philosopher John Stuart Mill, during a session of the British parliament, to refer to a reality opposed to utopia. In this sense, the dystopian reality becomes characterized by a pessimistic perspective of the world, filled with uncertainty regarding the future.

The novel "We", written by Yevgeny Zamyatin in 1920, in the newly formed Soviet Union, is considered the first science fiction story to address totalitarian dystopias. In "We", Zamyatin imagines a society governed by a "Single State". It is about a people who live under eternal surveillance. No one has a name, just alphanumeric IDs. Men have acronyms that begin with consonants, while women have acronyms that begin with vowels. Sexual relationships are non-monogamous, defined by standards, and only women with a certain body type can reproduce. There are neither fathers nor mothers. From birth, all children are taken over by the government.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Fahrenheit 451 is a science fiction book published in 1953 by the American writer Ray Bradbury.

In a culture that fights against critical and autonomous thinking of the individual, the novel talks about a dystopian reality in which firefighters' work is basically to burn books. 

This work entails a strong social criticism against authoritarianism and disgust to knowledge, intensely present during Nazism, contextualizing the post-war decade of the 50's.

The story became well known through the film adaptation by director François Truffaut, in 1966. There is also a remake by HBO.

The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood

The dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood, takes place in the very near future and is set in a republic where newspapers, magazines, books, and films no longer exist. Universities went extinct. Also, there are no lawyers since nobody has the right to defend themselves. Citizens considered criminals are shot and hung dead on the Wall, in a public square, to serve as example while their bodies rot in plain sight. To deserve such a fate, not much is required, for example, only the fact of singing any song that contains words prohibited by the regime, such as “freedom” is enough. In this theocratic and totalitarian state, women are the preferred victims, annulled by unprecedented oppression. The name of this republic is Gilead, but it was once the United States of America.

The women of Gilead have no rights. They are divided into categories, each with a very specific role in the state. Offred was given the rank of handmaiden, which means belonging to the government and existing solely to breed. This is because a large number of people became sterile after a nuclear catastrophe. The women turned into handmaidens are handed over to a high-ranking married man in the army and forced to have sexual intercourse until they get pregnant. After giving birth, they nurse the baby for a few months until they are handed over to another man. The name Offred given to the main character means “of Fred”, that is, belongs to a man called Fred.

Babies become properties of the couples who enslaved the handmaids. Thus, throughout her life, a handmaiden may have several owners, and therefore several names: Ofglen, Ofcharles, and Ofwayne…

The Handmaid's Tale was adapted for television. You can find it on streams; five seasons have already been released.

Bit heavy, don't you think? 

A summary of the situation

Dystopian literature and works produced from this aesthetic were and continue to be fundamental for us to reflect on the type of society in which we live, and how scientific and technological advances have not guaranteed a better life for most of the planet's inhabitants - many times, it meant dehumanization and concentration of wealth. Dystopias also make us reflect about the influence of government on people's lives. 

So, did you like this post?

What is your opinion on dystopias and which one is your favorite? 

Leave your comments and see you next time!